Quick-release article holder

ABSTRACT

A quick-release article holder adapted for mounting on a vertical surface and having a bifurcated lower support member and a spaced upper clamping member which is pivotally mounted for rotative movement into or out of engagement with the upper portion of the article to be held. The holder is particularly adapted for use in retaining cylindrical breathing apparatus which is mounted on the wall of a fire station or on a panel of a mobile fire apparatus and serves to retain and support the breathing apparatus when it is not in use or while it is being harnessed to the back of the user. A lever-operated linkage serves to pivot the upper retaining member out of clamping engagement with the apparatus so that the entire breathing apparatus can be moved horizontally away from the holder by the action of the user walking away from the holder after the breathing apparatus has been harnessed to his back. The breathing apparatus can be restored to the holder by reversing the removal procedure and moving the upper clamping member back into locking engagement with the upper part of the breathing apparatus. Adjustable features are provided for varying the spacing between the upper and lower members, changing the position of the upper member at its limits of pivotal movement and maintaining a spring-loaded clamping force on the upper member.

United States Patent 1 1 Boecker 1 June 5,1973

[54] QUICK-RELEASE ARTICLE HOLDER [75] Inventor: Allan J. Boecker,Orange, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Akron Brass Company, Wooster,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 89,855

[52] U.S. Cl ..248/313, 211/71 [51] Int. Cl ..A62c 39/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..248/3 16 R, 316 B,

248/309, 313, 311, l54;2l l/89,8,7l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examinerl. FranklinFoss Attorneylsler & Ornstein [57] ABSTRACT A quick-release articleholder adapted for mounting on a vertical surface and having abifurcated lower support member and a spaced upper clamping member whichis pivotally mounted for rotative movement into or out of engagementwith the upper portion of the article to be held. The holder isparticularly adapted for use in retaining cylindrical breathingapparatus which is mounted on the wall of a tire station or on a panelof a mobile fire apparatus and serves to retain and support thebreathing apparatus when it is not in use or while it is being harnessedto the back of the user. A lever-operated linkage serves to pivot theupper retaining member out of clamping engagement with the apparatus sothat the entire breathing apparatus can be moved horizontally away fromthe holder by the action of the user walking away from the holder afterthe breathing apparatus has been harnessed to his back. The breathingapparatus can be restored to the holder by reversing the removalprocedure and moving the upper clamping member back into lockingengagement with the upper part of the breathing apparatus. Adjustablefeatures are provided for varying the spacing between the upper andlower members, changing the position of the upper member at its limitsof pivotal movement and maintaining a spring-loaded clamping force onthe upper member.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJUFS ma SHEET 1 OF 2 FIGZ INVENTOR.ALLAN J BOELKK QiMW AT TORNYS PATENTEU JUN 5 I975 sum 2 or 2 mkm ATTQRNEYS QUICK-RELEASE ARTICLE HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Personswhose occupation or activity requires them to go into foul orexygen-depleted atmospheres, ordinarily utilize portalbe breathingapparatus to provide pure air through a face mask during the time thatthey are compelled to be in such an atmosphere. The pure air is retainedin a compressed state in an air cylinder which is strapped to the backof the user by a suitable harness arrangement. The compressed air ismetered to the face mask through suitable controls and hoses. Theapparatus can be quite cumbersome and heavy and a person would find itdifficult to strap it to his back without assistance, unless theapparatus is supported at the proper height by some suitable deviceduring the time that the user is manipulating the harness.

In order to provide some solution to this problem, the prier art hasprovided holders or brackets which are mounted on the wall at a tirestation or mounted on a vertical panel of mobile fire-fightingapparatus, for the purpose of retaining the breathing apparatus inposition for quick attachment to the wearer or user. Such prior artdevices generally consist of a pair of vertically spaced spring clipswhich embrace the air cylinder of the breathing apparatus and retain ityieldably against removal. Assuming that the breathing apparatus is atapproximately the proper height, the fireman or other user positionshimself with his back toward the breathing apparatus and secures theharness of the apparatus to his body. He then walks away from the holderor bracket to force the spring retaining clips to open or expand andrelease the air cylinder. in order to accomplish this, he has toovercome the force of the retaining spring clips, which may requireconsiderable effort on his part. If the spring pressure is extremelygreat, it may be almost impossible to remove the air cylinder by meansof the horizontal walk-away movement of the user. On the other hand, ifthe spring tension is too weak, the air cylinder is easily removed andreplaced but the holder will not satisfactorily retain the air cylinderin its storage position, particularly when it is subject to thevibration and dislodging forces encountered during transport on a mobilefire-fighting apparatus. Therefore, it is extremely difficult toestablish a spring tension which will be sufficient to adequately retainthe breathing apparatus during the various conditions of storage andtransport which it encounters, while at the same time maintaining suchspring tension low enough or weak enough to suit the convenience of theuser in detaching the air cylinder quickly and without undue effort fromthe holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its primaryobject the provision of a holder for articles, such as the breathingapparatus previously described, in which the user does not have toovercome the holding or retaining force of the holder in order to removethe article. Instead, a holder is provided with suitable retaining meanswhich are positive in action and which can be released or disengaged tocompletely free the article from restraint during its removal from theholder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder whose use is notlimited to a particular size or diameter of article, but which can beadjusted to accomodate reasonable variations in the size of the articlesit is designed to retain or hold.

It is another object of the invention to provide a holder which has theabove-mentioned features and advantageous characteristics in which asimple and easily operated lever mechanism is utilized to effectquickrelease of the retained article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation ofa holder embodying the features of the invention and particularlyadapted for use with cylindrical articles such as the breathingapparatus above mentioned.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the holder shown in FIG. 1, taken asviewed from the right side thereof, and with portions thereof brokenaway to show interior details.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the holder shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion of FIG. 2showing details of the arrangement and operation of the operatinglinkage utilized in the holder.

FIG. 5 is an venlarged fragmentary side elevation showing a modifiedform of adjustable mounting for the lower support member of the holder.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing detailsof a modified form of springloaded lost motion connection for pivotallysecuring the link to the upper retaining member of the holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. l-4 of thedrawings, the articie holder is shown to include a wall-mounting body orbracket 10 consisting of two parallel angle iron portions 11 and 12which are secured to each other in spaced relationship by fasteners 13extending through intermediate tubular spacers 14. The lower portion ofthe angle irons l1 and 12 are alsosecured in spaced relationship to eachother by means of fasteners 15 which extendthrough the body portion 16of a support member 17. The body portion 16 lies intermediate the legsof the angle iron portions 11 and 12 and serves to maintain theseportions in spaced relationship in the same functional manner as do theupper spacers 14. The fasteners 15 not only serve to interconnect theangle iron portions, but also serve to secure the support member 17 onthe wall bracket.

The support member 17 can be of any suitable form, but is here shown asbeing a ring member 18 which is bifurcated to provide two arcuatelyextending oppositely disposed support arms 19 which provide a passagewayor clearance space 20 between the free ends of the arms. This supportmember is particularly designed for use with an article in the form of anecked cylinder, shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2, and the clearancespace 20 is made of sufficient size to permit the neck of the cylinderto pass between the support arms when the cylinder is moved horizontallyinto or out of the article holder.

The upper portion of the wall bracket 10 has pivotally secured thereto aretaining or clamping member 21 having an ear portion 22 which ispivotally mounted on a pivot pin 23 which extends through the wallbracket. The retaining member 21 can be of any suitable form toaccomodate the article to be held and is here shown in the form of aring which is spaced upwardly from the support member 17 and normallylies inaplane substantially parallel to the plane of the support member.The article to be held is intended to be retained between the retainingmember 21 and the support member 17. This retention may simply involve aphysical interference by the retaining member against horizontalmovement of the article which may project upwardly therethrough, or mayinvolve a clamping action of the retaining member against the upperportion of the article being held so as to frictionally resist itsremoval from the holder, or may involve the combination of both thesefunctions, depending upon the characteristics desired, as will appearmore fully hereinafter.

Pivotally secured as at 24 to the car 22 of the retaining member 21 at alocation forwardly of the pivotal axis defined by the pin 23 is a drawrod or link 25 whose opposite end is externally threaded as at 26 forsecurement to a toggle plate or cam follower 27. The threaded portion 26on the link 25 is sufficiently long to permit adjustment of theeffective length of the link, if desired, when its upper portion isdisconnected from its pivotal connection with the ear 22. A change inthe effective length of the link 25 causes a change in the limits ofarcuate movement of the retaining member 21 and thus serves as a meansfor positioning the retaining member 21 for optimum operationalengagement with the article to be held.

The upper end of the toggle plate 27 has secured thereto one end of anexpansion coil spring 28 whose other end is anchored by a pin 29 to thewall bracket at a location upwardly from the toggle plate. The lower endof the toggle plate is pivotally secured, as by pivot pin 30, to a camplate 31 which is affixed to a shaft 32 journalled for rotation in thewall bracket 10. The shaft 32 has connected thereto an angularlyextending operating handle 33 by means of which the shaft can be causedto rotate about its own axis to cause corresponding rotation of the camplate 31 and orbital movement of the pin 30 which engages the toggleplate 27.

As best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, when the cam plate is in thedotted line position shown in FIG. 41, the cam pin 30 is disposedrearwardly of a vertical line extending through the axis of the shaft 32and may be considered to be over-center" with respect to the pivotalaxis of the cam plate. The spring 28 acting through the toggle plate 27serves to yieldably maintain the cam plate in this limit of position andthe toggle rod or link is drawn downwardly by means of the toggle plateto cause the retaining ring or member 21 to assume its retaining orclamping position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

However, when the operating handle 33 is rotated upwardly or clockwiseas viewed in FIG. 4 from the dotted line position to the colid lineposition, the cam plate 31 is also rotated in a clockwise direction tobring the cam pin above and rearwardly of the axis of the shaft 32 sothat it is now over-center on the opposite side of the shaft and hascaused upward displacement of the toggle plate 27 with consequent upwardlinear displacement of the link 25. The cam pin 30 is retained in thisover-center position by the action of the spring 28. The upwardextension or linear displacement of the link 25 causes upward orclockwise rotation of the retainer member 21 through the moment armdefined between the pivotal connection 24 and the axis of the pivot pin23.

When the retainer member 21 has achieved this open or unlocked positionshown in solid tines in FIG. 4, there is no longer any restraint onhorizontal movement of the article C which is shown in phantom outlinein FIG. 2 of the drawings. The article can be drawn away from the holderin a horizontal movement, during which the neck of the article will passfreely through the clearance opening or space 211 which is providedbetween the support arms 19 to permit such movement, as previouslydescribed.

The article holder herein described has been specifically designed forholding the compressed air cylinder of an emergency breathing apparatussuch as is used by firemen and other disaster workers. Such emergencybreathing apparatus and its associated controls is provided with aharness arrangement (not shown) by means of which the apparatus can bestrapped and secured to the back of the user. The lower portion of theair cylinder is customarily necked or reduced in diameter and hassecured thereto the necessary hoses and controls for metering the air tothe face mask worn by the user. The main body of the compressed aircylinder is, as the name implies, of cylindrical configuration, and theupper end of the air cylinder terminates in a semi-sphericalconfiguration. In the embodiment shown, the arcuate lower support arms19 define an internal diameter which is smaller than the diameter of thecylindrical portion of the air cylinder, so that the main body portionof the cylinder will rest upon the support member 17 and be supportedthereby even though the neck portion of the air cylinder does extendthrough and below the support member 17. Similarly, the retaining member21, which is here shown as ring shaped, has an internal diameter whichis smaller than that of the cylindrical portion of the air cylinder C sothat the retainer ring 21 will fit snugly upon the semispherical upperend of the air cylinder to both encircle it to physically obstruct itsremoval horizontally as well as to exert a clamping force downwardlyupon it to maintain it firmly in position and prevent it from rattlingor vibrating during transport. As previously described, the effectivelength of the support link 25 can be adjusted to cause the lockedposition of the retaining member 21 to be usch as to achieve thisfunction. However, it is to be noted that even if'the internal diameterof the retaining ring 21 were greater than that of the air cylinder, thedownward movement of the ring from its open position to its lockedposition would still cause the retaining ring to encircle the cylinderand obstruct its horizontal removal from the wall bracket. In such case,there would be no clamping action or downward force exerted by theretaining member upon the cylinder and it would be free to vibrate orrattle during transport and might even eventually slip out from theholder. This would not occur if the holder were mounted on a stationarywall, as in a tire station, in which instance the clamping action of theretaining member would not be so necessary.

When the fireman or other disaster worker wishes to attach the emergencybreathing apparatus to himself, he positions himself with his back tothe holder and secures the harness to himself while the heavy aircylinder is still supported by the holder. After the harness is securedin place, the user rotates the operating handle 33 from the positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings to the solid line position shownin FIG. 4 of the drawings, thus causing the pivotally mounted retainingmember or ring 21 to be moved upwardly to its open or unlocked position,as, previously described. The upper end of the air cylinder is now freeof restraint and the lower end is merely gravity-supported on the lowersupport member 17. The user can now walk away from the holder and theapparatus is free to move with him. When the emergency breathingapparatus has served its purpose and is to be returned to the holder,the removal operation is reversed. The user positions his back towardthe holder and moves toward it so as to pass the necked portion of theair cylinder between the lower support arms and bring the cylinder torest upon the lower support member 17. The user is now relieved of theweight of the air cylinder and can rotate the operating handle 33 fromthe solid line position shown in FIG. 4 to the locked position shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 where the upper retaining member 21 again engages the aircylinder. The user can then remove the harness.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows a modified form of the invention whichpermits adjustment of the position of the lower support member 17 so asto vary the spacing between the lower support member and the upperretaining member to accomodate to different sizes or lengths ofcylinders. In this modified form of the invention, the fasteners whichserve to secure the support member 17 between the spaced angle ironelements 11 and 12, extend through elongated slots 34 which are providedin the elements 11 and 12. The slots permit the location of securementof the lower support member 17 to be adjusted within the limits definedby the length of the slots.

FIG. 6 of the drawing shows another modification of the invention inwhich the draw rod or link 25a is provided with a spring-loaded lostmotion connection with the ear 22 of the retaining member 21. In thisform of the invention, the upper end of the link 25a is slotted as at 35to accompdate the pivot pin 24 which can move slidably upwardly ordownwardly in the slot. A compression coil spring is anchored at the topof the slot 35 in the path of upward movement of the pivot pin 24relatively to the link 25a. In this modified arrangement, when theoperating handle 33 is rotated upwardly to bring the retainer member 21to the unlocked position, the bottom of the slot 35 travels intoengagement with the pivot pin 24 to cause pivoting upward movement ofthe retaining member 21. On the other hand, when the operating handle 33is moved downwardly to lock the article in the holder, the free end ofthe spring 36 seats on the pivot pin 24 as the toggle rod 25a is drawndownwardly. As long as there is no significant resistance to thedownward rotation of the retaining member 21, the spring 36 will not becompressed. However, when the retaining member 21 abuts the article,even if this abutment should occur before the completion of downwardmovement of the link 250, the link is still free to continue itsmovement to completion in opposition to the action of the spring 36. Inthis manner, the compression of the spring 36 causes a significantdownward clamping action or force to be exerted on the upper end of thearticle which causes it to be snugly retained in the holder. Even if thearticle is of such configuration that its upper end cannot be encircledor embraced by the retaining member 21, the clamping action exerted bythe reatining member in simple abutment with the end of the article willoften be sufficient for holding purposes.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shownand described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a quick-release article holder for mounting on a vertical surface,the combination of a horizontallyextending lower support member adaptedto underlie the article, a retaining member spaced upwardly from saidsupport member and engageable with the article, means mounting saidretaining member for pivotal movement toward and away from saidarticle-engaging relationship, and an operation linkage connected tosaid retaining member for effecting said pivotal movement, saidoperating linkage including a link connected to said retaining member tocreate a moment arm about said pivotal connection, a toggle platesecured to the free end of said link, an operating lever, a rotatablecam operatively secured to said lever and engaging said toggle plate toprovide an over-center toggle joint interconnecting said link to saidlever to effect linear displacement of said link relative to said momentarm in response to lever-actuated plate-displacing rotation of said cam,and spring means yieldably maintaining said toggle joint in one or theother limit of its'position.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member isbifurcated to provide spaced articlesupport arms to underlie one portionof the article, the space therebetween providing an opening forhorizontal movement therethrough of another portion of the article.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, including adjustable mountingmeans for said members for selectively changing the spacing between saidsupport member and said retaining member.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member ismounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said retaining member isring-shaped and adapted to overlie an article of cylindrical shape.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, including means carried by saidlink for adjustably changing the effective length thereof to vary thelimits of position of said retaining member.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining memberclampingly engages the article in response to lever-actuated retractionof said link.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7, including a spring-loadedlost-motion connection between said link and said retaining member toyieldably permit retraction of said link after pivotal movement of saidretaining member has been arrested.

9. In a quick-release holder for an air cylinder having adownwardly-projecting necked portion, the combination of ahorizontaly-extending support member adapted to underlie said cylinder,said support member having spaced support arms to permit horizontaltraverse of the necked portion of said cylinder therebetween, aring-shaped retaining member of smaller internal diameter than saidcylinder spaced upwardly from said support member and adapted to bedisposed in overlying clamped engagement with said cylinder, meansmounting said retaining member for pivotal movement about a horizontalaxis, and a leverto said retaining member to yieldably permit retractionof said linkage after pivotal movement of said retaining member has beenarrested by said cyinder.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,737,133 Dated June 5, 1973 Inventor($) Allan'J. Boecker It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, in the heading, item [73] should read as follows:

Cleveland, Ohio, a Corporation of Ohio Signed and-sealed this 18th dayof June 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

-C. MARSHALL DANN EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 FORMPo-105o (10-69) I U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I." 0-8698.

1. In a quick-release article holder for mounting on a vertical surface, the combination of a horizontally-extending lower support member adapted to underlie the article, a retaining member spaced upwardly from said support member and engageable with the article, means mounting said retaining member for pivotal movement toward and away from said article-engaging relationship, and an operation linkage connected to said retaining member for effecting said pivotal movement, said operating linkage including a link connected to said retaining member to create a moment arm about said pivotal connection, a toggle plate secured to the free end of saId link, an operating lever, a rotatable cam operatively secured to said lever and engaging said toggle plate to provide an over-center toggle joint interconnecting said link to said lever to effect linear displacement of said link relative to said moment arm in response to lever-actuated plate-displacing rotation of said cam, and spring means yieldably maintaining said toggle joint in one or the other limit of its position.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member is bifurcated to provide spaced article-support arms to underlie one portion of the article, the space therebetween providing an opening for horizontal movement therethrough of another portion of the article.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, including adjustable mounting means for said members for selectively changing the spacing between said support member and said retaining member.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said retaining member is ring-shaped and adapted to overlie an article of cylindrical shape.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, including means carried by said link for adjustably changing the effective length thereof to vary the limits of position of said retaining member.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member clampingly engages the article in response to lever-actuated retraction of said link.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 7, including a spring-loaded lost-motion connection between said link and said retaining member to yieldably permit retraction of said link after pivotal movement of said retaining member has been arrested.
 9. In a quick-release holder for an air cylinder having a downwardly-projecting necked portion, the combination of a horizontaly-extending support member adapted to underlie said cylinder, said support member having spaced support arms to permit horizontal traverse of the necked portion of said cylinder therebetween, a ring-shaped retaining member of smaller internal diameter than said cylinder spaced upwardly from said support member and adapted to be disposed in overlying clamped engagement with said cylinder, means mounting said retaining member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and a lever-operated operating linkage connected to said retaining member to effect pivotal movement thereof out of and into clamping engagement with said cylinder, said linkage including a spring-loaded lost-motion connection to said retaining member to yieldably permit retraction of said linkage after pivotal movement of said retaining member has been arrested by said cyinder. 